Greg Munro and Don Stark are preparing for the Oxfam Trailwalker this weekend. Picture: Mike Richards.By Paul Dunlop
DON Stark has turned walking into an art form.
The Gembrook man and his teammates are preparing for the Oxfam Trailwalker, tagged the ultimate physical endurance event.
Don, Greg Munro of Nar Nar Goon North and fellow walkers Lori Tan and Kate O’Brien are one of 500 teams now in training for the event which runs from Friday, 7 April to Sunday 9 April.
Their challenge is to walk or run 100 kilometres in 48 hours.
For those of us inclined to run out of puff halfway between the couch and the fridge, it is a monumental task.
For Don and his teammates, it’s a “bit of fun”.
Don and Greg are both in their 50s, although the girls are younger. Fine weather predicted for Saturday should put an extra spring in the walkers’ steps although they will be hoping expectations of a wintry Sunday do not eventuate.
“It’s a good way to get out and explore the countryside,” Don said.
“This is my third Melbourne Trailwalker and I’ve done one in Sydney as well.”
Organisers are thrilled with the response to the event, which began in 1981 as a military training exercise in Hong Kong.
Teams will cover 100 kilometres of rugged and beautiful bushland from Wheelers Hill to the summit of Mount Donna Buang.
Don said he and his teammates were hoping to complete the journey in under 18 hours. His previous best is 20.5 hours.
“You don’t have a break, you walk pretty solidly but it’s good fun,” he said.
“Having the girls in the team is a good incentive to walk faster.”
Don and Greg have been walking up to 50 kilometres a week to prepare for the event. Several other teams from the local area are believed to be taking part in the walk.
